Ball Drilling Certification

[pba6285]

Well after a what seems as a Gazillion bowling balls drilled. (Started when I was 17 now I'm 52) I am working on my IBPSIA Certification. I will be attending the Powerhouse Hands on Training in Columbia TN this week. During the class we get to travel to Hopkinsville to Visit the Ball Plant.

During the week I will post a Blog on what happened in the class etc.

Off to be so I'm not tired in the AM

[JoshWithrow]

I'll be very interested to read your findings/learnings, so be as detailed as you can comfortable by ;) Good luck with it all and keep us posted!

[TenPinSniper]

This sounds cool. It will be interesting to hear your comments afterwards and as it goes on.

[Rowdy]

Reckon you could maybe roll one of them new spare balls out the back door for me? 16lbs will do just fine.:D

[BubbaRay]

Good luck and have some fun on this trip.

[slap]

Good luck and enjoy the trip!

[pba6285]

Class has 7 people in it from all over the US. One person just moved from Austraila to Midland TX and is buying a center there. 2 of us have been working in a Proshop for a while. Others are pro shop helpers or prospective owners or owners that have someone working for them.

Instructor is Jeff Ussery. He is a former pro shop operator and worked for Jayhawk Bowling Supply out of Kansas. He knows his stuff!

We covered some simple stuff today, Ball plugging. Resufacing and Ball weighing.

Most of this was a rehash of stuff I have already know.

One thing I did learn was that on a Turbo Pro Sect only one side of the cross brace is square to the face of the Ruler.


Tomorrow we do fitting of the hand.

Even though the class was a rehash. Jeff kept the clase lively and interesting.

Rick

[JoshWithrow]

As an instructor of other things, the one thing I've learned is that reiteration and reinforcement are key to anything, and it never hurts to review. Even when I re-read books that I've already read, I pick up on something new or forgotten every time I flip through the pages.

Glad things are going well. Moar Updayts!

[pba6285]

We did some fitting today. Practiced on a couple classmates. All in all it was a pretty fun day and reenforced some of what I had already learned in all the years I have been drilling balls.

We also covered lane play especially breakpoints and where bowlers should be playing on differing patterns.

Then we had a couple hours on Business operations.

As I previously said Jeff Ussery is very knowledgable and presents the information clearly and concisely where the less experienced ball drillers are able to absorb the information. And keeps it lively enough where the more experienced drillers are not bored.


Tomorrow, Ball construction, We actually get to throw some balls and then off to Hopkinsville.

Sorry gang we have been sworn to secrecy about what we see at the plant. As a proshop operator I value my relationship with Ebonite and Hammer and I'm not going to get anyone peeved at me.

Rick

[pba6285]

Sorry this is late but lots of homework to take care of

Day 3 Wednesday

Today we looked at ball construction from old wooden balls to the Modern Marvels we have today.

We made a 2 hour trip to the Ebonite factory in Hopkinsville. Watching them make bowling balls was amazing.

Sorry Gang I didn't see the new Hammer Spare ball that is being touted in another thread.

One thing I did learn is that Columbia had outsourced White Dots to China and at the present time Ebonite is doing the same. The factory in Hopkinsville is making about 5000 balls a day. All I can say is watching the process of pouring the weight block, then putting the weight block into a inner core and then pouring the outer shell is amazing. The plant is very noisy and some of the resin odors are quite pungent.

Day 4.

All ball layout today. Did some video analysis where a bowler was throwing a ball and we had to disect the shot and make a recommendation for a different ball for the player. We did a some with pin buffers (the TJ and Jason Trick Layouts.)


Tomorrow.

One of the things that is included in the price of the class is 2 of any ball that is in the current catalog. I am going to pick-up another BW and BWP.

I am going to drill my BW Pretty strong 3 3/8 x 75 degrees. Not going to drill the BWP. I will probably put it on the shelf in the shop when I get home.


All in all the class is very good. It has been more of a validation of the work that I have been doing for all these years. I have learned a few new things thanks to Jeff Ussery and my fellow classmates. I recommend the course for anyone interested in fitting and drilling from beginner to experienced.

Rick

[BubbaRay]

I'll have to look into taking that course. Sounds like a very interesting and informative course.

[JoshWithrow]

Out of curiosity, what is the cost of a course like this?

[pba6285]

$1250.00 $1065.00 for IBPSIA Members Plus lodging meals and travel.


I figure I spent about $1600 including Hotel, Meals and Travel and bowling while there. and I am a member of IBPSIA

[Rowdy]

That sounds like a deal to me. I'm gonna look into this....